Who were the big winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' preseason defeat against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium?
Despite a late rally from the Carolina Panthers, they were unable to claw back the New York Giants en route to their second straight preseason loss. While nobody is pressing the panic button yet, it's clear there is a lot of hard work ahead before Frank Reich's men take the field in Week 1 at the Atlanta Falcons.
Of course, the scheme is bland, and certain underperforming players aren't going to be around after final cuts. The Panthers also have the option of bringing in additional reinforcements from the waiver wire if the right opportunities come along.
There are some major overreactions currently unfolding among the fanbase. The results don't matter at this juncture, but another defeat is the clearest sign yet that expectations should be tempered after so many changes across the franchise since the 2022 campaign concluded.
With that being said, here are five winners and losers from the Panthers' second preseason game at the Giants.
Winner No. 1
Raequan Williams - Carolina Panthers DL
With Derrick Brown, Brian Burns, and Justin Houston sitting out the warmup contest, it was another chance for those lower down the pecking order to stake their claim. Raequan Williams fits into this category and after a strong training camp, the defensive lineman put together an eye-catching display at MetLife Stadium.
Williams was a constant menace at the line of scrimmage, generating push against the run and also showcasing his pass-rushing prowess to great effect. He even managed to generate a sack coming off a double-team, which won't have gone unnoticed by the coaching staff when they begin evaluations.
This part of the preparation period is all about seizing opportunities. Williams is giving the Panthers' brass plenty to think about, which was always half the battle coming in for the Michigan State product.
Loser No. 1
Matt Corral - Carolina Panthers QB
Bryce Young played a little longer than his debut against the New York Jets last weekend. However, the Carolina Panthers gave Matt Corral the large majority of snaps once they'd seen enough from the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Corral is auditioning for a roster spot either with the Panthers or elsewhere. But after another subpar display overall, it doesn't seem likely that Carolina is going to get any decent compensation for a player they traded up to acquire in last year's third round.
There was just something missing from Corral's production at MetLife Stadium. His lack of confidence in the pocket was notable and although things gradually improved as the game went on, Carolina didn't truly come to life until Jake Luton took over under center.
The former Ole Miss sensation finished the night by completing nine of 13 passes for 71 yards and 13 rushing yards from one carry. Corral didn't throw a touchdown or interception, was sacked once, and secured an 82.5 passer rating as a result of his efforts.
It's so hard to predict Corral's future right now. The Panthers could take three quarterbacks onto the roster, but there's also a chance he's traded for minimal compensation or perhaps even released entirely.
And in truth, it might come down to how Corral performs against the Detroit Lions in Carolina's preseason finale.
Winner No. 2
Shi Smith - Carolina Panthers WR
With Damiere Byrd on injured/reserve and Terrace Marshall Jr. facing several weeks on the sidelines with a back tweak, an opportunity knocked for another wide receiver to step up and potentially make a lasting contribution. Many thought that might be Javon Wims, but it was Shi Smith that seized the moment with the spotlight glaring at MetLife Stadium.
Smith came into the preparation period firmly on the roster bubble after some impressive acquisitions from the Carolina Panthers this offseason. The former sixth-round selection got his head down to perform well throughout camp and maximized the chance for significant involvement in Preseason Week 2 to further enhance his status.
The South Carolina product finished the day with 59 receiving yards, bringing in four receptions from five targets. This was another big step in the right direction and something that might ensure Smith beats out other hopefuls to make the team.
One would think the top five wideouts are locked in. Whether the Panthers take six or seven through onto the roster is a hot topic of debate, but what cannot be disputed is Smith emerging as the frontrunner for that sixth place on the depth chart following an impressive summer from the player.
If Smith builds on this further against the Detroit Lions next week, fans can pencil him onto the 53.
Loser No. 2
Ikem Ekwonu - Carolina Panthers OT
This is the second time in as many weeks that offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu has found himself on the wrong side of this particular list. But again, there's no reason to press the panic button just yet despite another disappointing performance from the former first-round selection.
Ekwonu was once again sluggish in pass protection and isn't quite there mentally right now. There's still time to clean things up before Week 1 at the Atlanta Falcons arrives, but the North Carolina State product needs to buck up his ideas quickly looking at his body of work over the two warmup games so far.
Nobody is doubting Ekwonu's credentials. The left tackle proved as a rookie that he has what it takes to be the shutdown blindside protector the Carolina Panthers have craved since Jordan Gross, which is exactly why the edge presence is being held to a much higher standard than most.
The Panthers now have a franchise quarterback to protect, which makes Ekwonu's role all the more pivotal. His athletic traits are absolutely off the charts, so these two preseason games are more than likely a blip rather than something that could develop into a long-term complication.
Carolina's protection is taking some heat for their efforts throughout the preseason. And in terms of underperformers, Ekwonu is near the top.
Winner No. 3
D.J. Johnson - Carolina Panthers OLB
There were more than a few raised eyebrows when the Carolina Panthers traded up to acquire D.J. Johnson at No. 80 overall in the 2023 Draft. While his impressive physical attributes were worth gambling on, most fans and analysts felt this was a significant reach for someone with a consensus Day 3 grade.
Johnson is a rough diamond after transitioning to the edge rushing position at Oregon. However, the Panthers' acquisition of Justin Houston should give the rookie a little extra breathing space to develop at his own pace during a crucial first season in a professional environment.
In fairness to Johnson, he's ignored all the criticism and focused on improving from the moment he joined the Panthers. This is starting to bear fruit in terms of on-field production if the player's performance at the New York Giants was any indication.
The statistics didn't exactly jump off the screen, but Johnson's contribution was impressive upon further examination. He set the edge well against the run and caused enough disruption in obvious pass-rushing situations to leave reasons for encouragement.
This bodes well for Johnson in both the short and long term. There's a good chance he sees time on the defensive rotation given Houston's age and he might have even surpassed the likes of Yetur Gross-Matos on the depth chart already.